Xabi Alonso's Shocking Real Madrid Departure Shakes Up Winners and Losers
Real Madrid shocked the football world by dismissing Xabi Alonso on Monday, creating a whirlwind of emotions throughout the squad.
The stunning announcement followed just 24 hours after Los Blancos fell 3–2 to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. This defeat marked another high-profile match where Real Madrid came up short under Alonso's guidance, a pattern that led to the club's decisive action.
Former Real Madrid Castilla manager Álvaro Arbeloa has stepped in as immediate replacement, now facing the enormous challenge of restoring the team's form while earning the confidence of a locker room filled with world-class talent and strong personalities.
From key players welcoming new leadership to squad members disrupted by the sudden change, here's how Alonso's exit affects different members of the team.
Winners
Vinicius Junior
If anyone in the squad is celebrating Alonso's departure, it's undoubtedly Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian star experienced constant friction with the Spanish coach throughout the campaign, beginning in August when he was surprisingly dropped for the team's second match of the season.
Alonso continued to sideline Vinicius Jr for the Champions League opener, intensifying the growing tension with the No. 7. Even after abandoning his tactical experiment and restoring the winger to the starting lineup, the 44-year-old consistently substituted his star player early, leading to the explosive October El Clásico incident.
Vinicius Jr angrily left the field and headed straight to the tunnel after Alonso substituted him late in the Barcelona match, as their relationship hit rock bottom. Soon after, reports surfaced that the forward was unwilling to extend his contract while this toxic dynamic persisted with Alonso.
Despite appearing to reconcile later, Vinicius Jr will undoubtedly breathe easier knowing Arbeloa is now in charge.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Despite spending considerable time injured this season, Trent Alexander-Arnold stands to gain significantly from the managerial change once he returns to action. The England defender never earned Alonso's complete confidence, as the coach appeared to favor Dani Carvajal's more solid defensive contributions.
Unexpectedly, Alexander-Arnold found himself fighting for playing time and warming the bench far more than anticipated. The former Liverpool standout couldn't demonstrate his abilities or properly integrate with his new teammates, hampered by both fitness issues and Alonso's tactical choices.
However, new management offers Alexander-Arnold a fresh opportunity upon his return. Despite his defensive limitations, benching a player of his caliber represents a significant oversight that Arbeloa can now address.
Losers
Arda Güler
Arda Güler emerges as the most significant casualty from the coaching change. The midfielder was finally experiencing his breakthrough moment under Alonso, who invested considerable time nurturing the promising youngster.
Güler transformed from a benchwarmer under Carlo Ancelotti to a regular starter throughout the early months of the 2025–26 campaign, receiving consistent opportunities from Alonso to demonstrate his potential. The Turkish international achieved 14 goal contributions under the Spanish manager, establishing a personal best that seemed destined to grow.
Even when Alonso occasionally favored Eduardo Camavinga over Güler, the 20-year-old remained the primary substitute option. Now, he faces potential regression unless Arbeloa demonstrates similar belief in his abilities.
Kylian Mbappé
Certainly, Mbappé's position within Real Madrid's squad remains unshakeable regardless of who manages the team. The French striker tops the club's scoring charts this season with 29 goals, frequently delivering match-winning performances for the Spanish powerhouse.
However, this represents yet another manager dismissed during his tenure. Mbappé has witnessed six coaches lose their positions over the past eight years. During his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Christophe Galtier all departed while overseeing the Frenchman.
This pattern has followed him to Real Madrid, where the club has now separated from both Carlo Ancelotti and Alonso during Mbappé's first 18 months at the Bernabéu. While one individual cannot be held responsible for institutional problems, this adds another questionable chapter to the 27-year-old's career narrative.